Bid $600, Bill $1365???

For the record I am a homeowner and would like some information. I recently received a bid for 10 yards of mulch to be blown in for a total of $60/yard or total of $600. I also had them plant a few Fountain Grass plants at $15 a pop (he planted 4 of these). We agreed to this and he did the job. I get the mail today and I get a bill for $1365. Instead of the 10 yards he said he installed 20 yards. I think this is ludicrous. I do understand it is difficult to bid mulch jobs and could see under/over estimating 1 or 2 yards, but 10 yards. Am I out of line for complaining?

Did you sign a contract (proposal for work) stating the scope of work and the sum to be paid? I expect clients to sign a legal contract for the work to be done so there are no such misunderstandings later on. Without a legal contract---its an uneasy situation for everybody. Guess I would wonder why he didn't call when he saw what was happening. You should be able to verify the amount of mulch used by measuring the area and the depth of the new mulch.

like lanelle said you can get the amount by measureing, if you will find the length, the width, and the depth we can figure it for you. also i would tell him that you agreed on a certain price, and that is all your gonna pay.. tell him (or her) that if they dont like it they can come get there mulch back... i bet they see it your way then..

Has this person done work for you before? Has he been honest in the past dealings with you?
Estimating material and labor can be tricky sometimes. When I estimate things like this, I tell the customer that it is not a quote but a estimate. You can measure to get the base line numbers but to actually put out an even 3 inches is a different story.
However, he should have informed you that his estimate was off. The last thing he shopuld do is just bill you for the extra material without lettng you know before hand.
I think the ball is in your court. If I had done business with this person before and I trust him I would probally pay him. I had a job estimated once for 2 hours and ending up taking 8. I was there while the work was done and they could not have done anything different. I paid the bill that was 4 times higher than the estimate.
I think there is a difference between a estimate and a quote. If were talking its a estimate. If it's on paper, it's a quote, and we stand behind it, right or wrong.

I agree with lawnmutt, if he gave you a price without saying it could be more, you should hold him to it. Like you said, it's easy to be off 1 or 2 yards just by the way it is spread out, but off by twice as much is his mistake and he should eat it as a lesson learned. I have done this, sometimes the customer will offer to pay the extra material, but that is only a friendly gesture and I dont ask for it, and if it was a really bone headed mistake on my part, I wont accept the extra.

He's doing backhanded business practices, which is stupid in the long run because you probably wont have him back or refer him out.

10% difference is ok but 100% no way.
If I give a price, right or wrong I stick to it.
Plus I always have a contract. So I dont have any disputes.
If he is new to this then it is possible he made that big of a mistake. But the only way to make one that huge is to not prepare properly. If he didnt measure it then its all his fault. If he did measure then his math skills are alittle suspect.